Erin McAuley tells us why she’s voting Labour in the upcoming Scottish election…
As a young person and aspiring teacher, I am voting Labour because I don’t want to be part of a generation or a Scotland divided where my future is fractured by blind nationalism. I am voting Labour because I believe in a socialist, equal, wealth distributed Scotland fit for us all not just the few.
Young people in this country are hit the hardest from insecure work, exploitation and unfair wages and conditions. We need a voice in parliament, a Labour government who will stand up and fight to end precarious work and zero-hour hour contracts once and for all. Young people are denied an adult wage, yet are charged an adult priced ticket on the train because rail cards and Young Scot cards in this country do not apply at peak times. This is a barrier that needs to be eradicated. Travel is unaffordable for our youth and it is Labour who has promised to regulate bus services and re-evaluate the current transport system which is affecting us.
The Scottish Labour party has made mental health one of their main priorities devising five key pledges to tackle the chronic issues. With a soaring level of youth suffering with poor mental health, threats of local services being cut and waiting lists increasing, a return of a Labour government in my view would move to resolve each of these obstacles that are currently a threat.
It was Labour that introduced free tuition in this country, and whilst education has remained free for the past nine years, it is the poorest students whose bursaries have been cut by a 1/3. I live amongst a generation of youths who whether they are at university, college, in work or home are struggling to put food on the table and are facing serious debt problems with the rising rent and housing prices. With Labour’s clear and radical alternatives set out I believe this can be changed.
We already have the powers to invest in our education, our economy, to build more social affordable homes and eliminate the barriers facing young people. Labour are clear that they are going to be the party who are bold enough to use these powers and are clear on their vision of how they will use the new tax powers to combat the political choice of austerity that is currently being thrust upon us.
The last government got elected with the commitment to scrap council tax, student debt, reduce class sizes, maintain teacher’s numbers, and PFI yet 9 years in power they have failed to do this and it’s our generation who will deal with the consequences. I am voting for real change in Scotland, for my generation now and for our future.
Find out more about Labour in Scotland and what they’re doing ahead of the Scottish election at www.scottishlabour.org.uk.
